Method of forming heated combustible mixtures for internal-combustion engines



METHOD OF FORMING HEATED COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES FOR WOOLSON Sept. 21 1926.

3 Sheets-Sheet i INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 8. 1922 jkbeZ/Z mam YSep t. 21 1920. 1,600,662

' L M. WOOLSON METHOD OF FORMING HEATED COMBUSTIBLE. IIXTURBS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 8. 1922 3 Sheets-Shoot 2 I 45 I l 44 7 5 46 55 y 41 51 2K0 I 15 Q mlmio't;

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Sept. 21 1926. 7 6,662

L. M. WOOLSON METHOD or FORMING HEATED COMBUSTIBLE mxTuaEs FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION EEerEEs Filed May a. 1922 3 Slieets-Sheet 3 Q Q 0' v 62 I J mlI I l v 15 v 11 I in Janina:

Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

' UNITED' STATES 1,600,662 PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TOPACKARD MOTOR GAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MIGHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

mn'rnon or FORMING HEAT-ED COMBUSTIBLE mg'runns non INTERNAL-COMBUS- TION ENGINES.

Application flied May 8,

This invention relates to internal'combustion engines and particularly to methods of forming heated combustible mixtures for internal combustion engines.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with engines for motor vehicles, motor boats, aircraft, etc., but it is not necessarily limited to such use.

The invention'is particularly adaptedto use the present low grade of gasoline, but it may also advantageously employ even lower grades of fuel, such as kerosene, as .well as the higher grades or more volatile fuels. A

1111. the use of internal combustion engines there are severalproblems which are due largely to the present low grade of gasoline. For instance, in cold weather an engine can be started only by' supplying a very rich mixture to the cylinders, the lighter fractions only of that mixture being ignitible in a cold state, and ordinarily it takes some time to bring an engine up to its full power because when cold it can burn only a small proportion of the liquid fuel'that is fed 'to' it. This feeding of rich mixture to the engine and burning only, apart of its fuel content has two very harmful results, first,

it deposits carbon on the cylinder walls and pistons and fouls the spark plugs, and second, much of the unburned fuel passes" between the cylinder and piston walls, cutting the oil thereon,and collects in the crank case with the lubricating oil, thereby diluting the latter to an alarming degree. Therefore, if a cold engine is run for any time on a rich mixture it soon becomes fouled with carbon and crank case oil dilution takes place to an extent that requiresand when one cylinder fires weakly or not 1922. sci-m1 No. 559,448.

at all its following charge or charges will be still richer by reason of the unburned mixture remaining in it and it thereby tends to' aggravate the situation instead of bettering it. i This uneven firing is in itself most disagreeable in an automobile engine regardless of .the injurious results that follow it. 1

The problems or difficulties above referred to are more particularly noticeable, of course,'in cold weather. If the Weather is not too cold the engine can usually be started'by adjusting the carburetor to provide a very rich mixture. The mixture must then be continued rich untilthe engine warm'sup and itself supplies the mi-xturewith heat by either heating the. air enteringthe carburetor or heating the mixture passing from the carburetor to the motor, or both. Some engines employ the exhaust gases for this heating process and others use the hot water from the water jackets. I

Engine exhaust and jacket water heaters obviously cannot supply initial heatfitd'the carburetor or intake pipe and consequently. are of no. value in" starting a cold-engine. Initial electric heaters have been tried here-- tofore but with unsatisfactory results due to the large ainount of current required to effect volatilization of the fuel. Combustion heaters have been tried prior to this invention but have not been'found to be thoroughly successful.

The present invention is of the combusf tion heater type and it contemplates forming, by the suction eifect of the engine, a moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air, separating a portion-of the mixture which is thus being drawn into the engine,

operating upon" this separated mixture,

through th'e'suction effect of the engine, so

thatfit will 'be readily ignited and burn steadily and completely, igniting it, and then coinbiningthe hot. products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the original column of mixture passing to. the engine. This direct contact of the burnt gases with the mixture passing through the intake. pipe" will quickly heat that mixture and the burnted and unburned gases will unite to form a heated combustible mixture that will not condense on the walls of the'intake pipe but will be evenly distributed to" the vari- ()ther objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The method forming the subject of this invention may take several different forms and, as will appear from the description,

different mechanisms may be used to carry out the method. Several of such 'mechanisms are here. illustrated for the purpose of a full and clear understanding of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a carburetor, heater device and associated arts; comprising a mechanism by which the method may be practiced;

Fig.2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig.1:

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing another form of mechanism that may be used to carry out the method;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa right end View of the elbow casting shown in Fig. 3, with parts broken away on the line 55 of Fig. 3;.and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an other form of mechanism for practicing the invention.

Referring to the device shown in Figs. 1

and 2, 10 represents the float chamber of a carburetor, 11 is a passage leading from the float chamber to a fuel nozzle 12, 13 is a main air intake passage, and 14 is an auxiliary air intake passage of this carburetor. The passage 13 may be controlled by a butterflyvalve 15 and the passage 14 is auto; matically controlled by a spring closed air valve 16. The nozzle 12 extends into eventuri shaped mixing tube 17 the lower end of which communicates with the passage 13, and the tube. in turn extends into a vertical mixing chamber 18 the lower end of which communicates'with the auxiliary air passage 14. A throttle valve 19 controls the passage of mixture from the carburetor and an'intake pipe 20 carries the mixture from the carburetor to the motor.

In operation, this carburetor maintains a desired level of fuel in the float chamber 10 by the usual operation of the float and valve therein. and the suction of the motor draws some of the fuel through the nozzle '12 and also draws air through the passage 13'and the chamber 18. The amount of mixture that passes to the motor is controlled'by the throttle valve 19 which is shownas in its nearly closed position. Thus the suction effect of the engine forms a moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air upwardly through the tube 17 and chamber 18 and this column of mixture is controlled by the throttle valve 19. By manually controlling the tension of the spring of the valve 10 the richness of the mixture may be varied.

Above the mixing chamber 18, and shown as mounted on the intake pipe .20, is a closed chamber 21 which may be termed a combustion chamber. .It is separated from the in-- take pipe 20 by a corrugated wall 22 so that some of the heat of the combustion chamber may be readily transferred tothe intake conduit or pipe.)

A pipe or conduit 23. having its inlet in the form of a narrow slot 24 within the mixing chamber 18, is adapted to withdraw from said chamber some of the mixture therein. The other end of the conduit 23 is connected with the chamber 21 as shown at 25, a finemesh screen 26 being arranged over the pipe connection so that the mixture entering the chamber 21 will be broken up asit enters the chamber. An outlet pipe or conduit 27 extends from the chamber 21 to the intake conduit 20 above the throttle valve 19. This connection is shown at 28 and the-outlet connection from the chamber 21 is shown as covered by a screen 29.

The chamber 21 has an air inlet port 30 which may be controlled either by a spring closed air valve 31 or by a manually controlled valve 32, or both. This port is provided to supply additional air to the mixture if a richer mixture than is required is supplied by the mixture withdrawingmeans .23.

A'spark plug 33, suitably connected with the ignition system of the motor is arranged with its sparking points in the chamber 21 for firing the mixture as it enters therein.

From the above description it will be This separated column of mixture in the tube 17 where it mixes with the fuel as both p ipe 23 is thus speeded up and as it enters pass to'the, mixing chamber 18. As the sucthe chamber 21 it is broken up by the screen tion of the motor increases the valve16 is opened against its spring pressure and additional air is drawn into the mixture in 26. It is ignited by the spark plug 33 and the products of combustion pass out through the pipe 27 into the intake conduit running under its own power or being cranked by an electric or other starting motor, causes the carburetor to deliver an upwardly moving column of mixture to the chamber 18, and this column of mixture, particularly with the throttle valve partly closed, is divided or separated into two columns, one continuing on to the engine through the intake conduit and the other taking a path through the pipe 23. The high suction in the pipe 23 speeds up the ,mixture therein thus agitating it, and the screen 26 breaks it up as it enters the chamber 21. Here ignition takes place and while some of'the heat of combustion is transferred through the corrugated wall to the intake pipe, the greater part of it is carried through the pipe 27 with the products ofcombustion directly onto-the intake conduit 20 wheretheburnt gases combine with the column of mixture passing therethrough to the engine. The fresh mixture is thereby heated and prevented from condensing on the relatively cold wall of the intakeconduit, and a'mixture that will readily ignite and burn completely is delivered to the engine for starting and operating it. Thus an even distribution of mixture to the cylinders is insured and as the mixture will be fully burned there will be no appreciable carbon deposit or dilution of the crank case oil.

Referrin 4 and 5,- t e lowerpart of the carburetor is not shown because it is exactly like that shown in Fig. 1. The fuel nozzle 12, however, is illustrated as 'is also the mixing tube 17 and the mixing chamber 18. Likewise, the throttle valve 19 and the engine intake pipe 20 areshown. In Fig. 3 the motor cylinder block is indicated at B, the intake pipe 20 being connicted to the cylinder block.

In this as in the previously described devicethe mixing'chamber 18 and the intake pipe 20. merge into each other and in Fig. 3 this chamber or passage is shown in elbow form and the combustion chamber 21 is an inte ral part of the elbow. The inlet 40 for the conduit 41 leading to the combustion chamber 21 is situated in the turn of the elbow where it will readily separate and receive a art of the mixture from the carburetor. Ihe conduit 41 leads upwardly to a transverse port 42 which enters a vertical passage 43 somewhat tangentially thereof, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. The passage 43 extends downwardly and a screen 44 is arranged between it and the spark plug 33 and by this means the separated portion of mixture is given a whirling motion in the passage 43 and is thereby agitated and to the device shown in Figs. 3,-

broken up, passing through the screen 44 into the combustion chamber 21 near the spark plug 33. The spark plug firesthis readily .ignitible mixture and the products of combusti'on pass out through a port '45 leading into-the intake conduit 20'between the throttle valve 19 and the engine cylinders. The products of combustion thereby mix with the moving column of mixture passing from the mixing chamber 18 through the intake conduit 20 to the engine.

"An' air port 46,- adjustable as to size by the thumb valve 47, is arranged in the conduit 41 so that the mixture may be leaned out slightly if desired, A glass window 48 is also provided to observe the firing action.

One of the features of the invention that is particularly well practiced by this device is that of speedingup and agitating the separated portion of the mixture. The port 45 being large and entering the intake conduit beyond the throttle valve, and the port 42 being small and tangentially directed, there is considerable of a pull on the mixture when the throttle valve is in nearly closed position and the mixture is consequently caused to flowrapidly through the conduit 41 and port 42 and it is greatly agitated and broken up as it travels from that port to the vicinity of the spark plug in the combustion chamber. The result is a beautifully steady burning flame in the combustion chamber and its very hot products of combustion are rapidly drawn off through the large port 45 into the intake conduit 20 where they mingle with the other portion of the original mixture column and heat it and travel with it as a combined mixture evenly distributed to the various cylinders of the engine.

Referring to the devices shown in Fig. 6, the float chamber 10, passage 11, main air passage 13, auxiliary air passage 14, mixing tube 17 and mixing chamber 18 are similar to like parts in Fi 1. The fuel nozzle 50,

,however,.- is somew at different in that it is formed with a, plurality of outlets, the lower outlet 51 being arranged in the neck of the choke tube 17 and the upper outlet 52 being arranged somewhat nearer the top of the tube. The operation of the device,

however, is substantially the 'sameexcept that a somewhat leaner mixture is provided under certain working conditions of the motor and an economy'in the use of fuel is effected. Both devices furnish a substantially uniform mixture of fuel and air throughout the running range of the engine. The throttle valve 19, so far as its valve function is concerned, is also the same asthat shown in the other views andthe intake pipe 20 above the throttle valve. leads to the motor cylinder block B as previously explained.

In the present instance a portion of the mixture is withdrawn from the. mixing chamber 18 through one or a series of ports 53 and a conduit 54 formed in the throttle sage 57 and through a screen 58 into the combustion chamber 21 where it'is ignited by the spark plug 33 as before.

An outlet conduit 59 leads from the combustion chamber 21 to a port 60 communicating with theintake conduit 20- above the throttle valve 19 so that the suction of the intake conduit Performs its function of drawing a part of the mixture from the mixing chamber 18 through'the pipe and into the combustion chamber 21 as in'the previ ously described constructions. The conduit 59 and port are larger than the port 56 so that the smaller column of mixture is speeded up in its passage.

There is also an adjustable air intake port 61 communicating with the combustion chamber 21 through a channel 62 for the purpose of obtaining a closer regulation of the mixture.

In this device of Fig. 6 the carburetor, by the suction effect of the engine, delivers a vertically moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air to the chamber .18 inwhich the throttle valve 19 is located; a relatively small portion/ of this mixture is'separated' from the main column and drawn through the ports 53 and conduit 5% into the pipe 55.

This smaller or secondary column is speeded up as it passes through the small port 56 and in the passage 57 it is given a whirling motion and passed through the screen 58 in 1a finely divided state. This mixture enters the chamber adjacent the spark plug and is fired thereby. If it is too rich it-will burn pr lower down in the chamber by reason of-the admission of air to that part of the chamber and the products of combustion will pass out through the port 60 into the intake conduit 20. Here the burnt gas combines with the original'column of mixture and a hot mixture is formed that will be carried through the conduit 20 into the engine without material condensation on the walls of the intake pipe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of formin a heated combustible mixture for interna combustion engines, said method consisting in forming, by

n the suction effect of the engine, a moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air, separating said mixture into two columns, agitating the mixture of one of said separated columns,-moving said agitated mixture column verticaly over an electric spark and thus igniting the mixture of said agitated column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the other separated column of mixture.

2. The method of forming a heated "combustible mixture for internal combustion engines, said method consisting in forming, by the suction effect of the engine, a moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air, separating said mixture into two columns, speeding up the movement of and agitating the mixture of one of .said separated columns, igniting the mixture of said agitated column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the other separated column of mixture.

. 3. The method of forming a heated combustible mixture for internalcombustion engines, said method consisting in forming a moving column of mixture of liquidfuel and 'air, separating said column into two columns and air, separating a relatively small portion and thus forming a secondary column of mixture from the primary column, agitating the mixture of said secondary column and mechanically dividing the fuel particles thereof, igniting the mixture of said secondary column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

5. The method of forming a heated combustible mixture for internal combustion engines, said method consisting in forming a moving column. of mixture of liquid fuel and air, separating .a relatively small portion and thus formng a secondary column' of mixture from the primary column, moving said secondary column of mixture substantially vertically downwardly over an electric spark and thus igniting the mixture of said secondary column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

6. The method of forming a heated combustiblemixture for internal-combustion engines, said method consisting in formin ,a moving column of mixture of liquid uel and air, separating a relatively small portion of said mixture and forming it into a downwardly moving substantially vertical.

secondary column and admit-ting air to the mixture at the lower part of said column,

and air, separating a relatively small portion of said mixture and forming it into a downwardly moving substantially vertical secondary column and admitting air to the mixture at the lower part of saidcolumn,-

igniting the mixture of said secondary column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

8. The method of forminga-heated combustible mixture for internal combustion engines, said method consisting in forming, by the suction effect of the englne, a moving column of mixture of liquid fuel and air. separating a relatively small portion of said mixture and, by said suction eflect, forming it into a'more rapidly moving secondary column. and admitting air to the mixture thus separated, ignitin the mixture of said secondar column, an then combining the hot pr ucts of combustion of the ignited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

9. The method,of forming a heated combustible mixture for internal combustion enines, said method consisting in forming, y the. suction efict of the engine, a moving column of mixture of liquid fueland tating the mixture. of said secondary column by said suction "'efi'ect, igniting the mixture of the secondarycolumn, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the ignited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

101 The method of forming a heated combustible mixture for internal combustion en-,

gines, said method consisting in forming, by the suction effect of theengine, a moving column 'of mixture'of liquid fuel and air, separating a relatively small portion of said mixture and thus forming a secondary col umn of mixture from the primary column,

speeding up the movement of and agitating the mixture of said secondary column by said suction effect and mechanically dividingv the fuel particles of the mixture of said secondary column, admitting air to the mixture of said secondary column at the lower part thereof, igniting the mixture of said secondary column above the point of air admission, and then combinin the hot products of combustion of the gnited mixture with the primary column of mixture.

11. The method of forming a heated com- I bustible mixture for internal combustion engines, said method consisting in forming, by

the suction effect of the, engine, a, moving column of mixture ofvliquid fuel and air, separating the mixture mto primary and secondary columns, the former of which is larger than the latter, speeding up the movement of the mixture of the secondarycolumn, igniting the speeded-up mixture of the secondary column, and then combining the hot products of combustion of the sec? ondary column with, the mixture in the primary column.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature.

- LIONEL M. WOOLSON. 

